Page 5 of Accidentally Joining His Cult (Chicago Awakenings #1)
CHAPTER FIVE
Beckett
I should have kissed him.
The thought plays on repeat in my head like an annoying song that you can’t stop hearing over and over again, even now, days later.
Another thirty seconds and I would have. We were standing so close. I knew we didn’t have time, and a short kiss was the most I could hope for. I was already reaching for him because not touching him had felt impossible in that moment. Staring at his mouth, the anticipation growing as we leaned in closer.
And then his stupid boss ruined it.
I know I haven’t been on many first dates, so I’m not the best judge, but I thought we had a pretty perfect one. Dinner was great, the conversation effortless, and we laughed so much. Everything just felt... right.
I can’t remember ever wanting to just hang out with someone I’m this attracted to.
Sure, I wish we could have continued the night in his hotel room, but I was still really pleased with how the night had gone. I need to see him again.
I’ve been trying to hold off on texting him, not wanting to seem too desperate. But as I sit in my office, completely ignoring the work in front of me, having this internal debate yet again, I decide a few days should be fine.
Beck
Hey Goldie
Cody
Goldie?
Beck
You’re a big, muscular, golden retriever of a man. Goldie, duh.
Goldie
If you say so *Sunglasses emoji*
Beck
No need to pretend like you didn’t sit up straighter, bouncing in your seat with a big smile on your face, all excited that I gave you a nickname.
Goldie
You caught me *winking emoji*
Goldie
Now you need a nickname…
Goldie
Hmmm, something with a black cat
Goldie
Salem!
Goldie
Like the cat in Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Goldie
That’s fitting, you have spooky vibes
Even his rapid-fire, stream-of-consciousness texting style is adorable. It’s like he’s so excited that he can’t wait to finish a complete thought, so he sends it as he goes.
Salem
Haven’t seen it…“Spooky vibes” in a good way?
Goldie
For sure a good thing!
Goldie
Growing up, I always wanted to be like the cool kids with dark hair, piercings, and tattoos.
Goldie
Spooky vibes haha all of the popular girls wanted to date them.
Goldie
I knew that I couldn’t pull it off
Salem
Does that look work on the popular boys too?
Goldie
Goldie laughed at “Does that look work on the popular boys too?”
Salem
So, no tattoos for you?
Goldie
I still have a few! I just knew that I’d never pull off the badass look.
Salem
Hopefully I’ll get to see them soon *winking emoji*
Goldie
DOES THAT MEAN YOU’RE COMING TO THE CONFERENCE?!?
Salem
That will probably be the easiest way to hook up, right? Can you send me the details?
Goldie
FUCK YEAH!
Goldie
What’s the best email to forward the link to?
Salem
[email protected]
Goldie
SENT!
Goldie
I’m so excited!
Salem
Ugh, why does it have to be in Florida?
Goldie
Please say you’re actually coming and there isn’t some important hockey game that weekend
Salem
You already know me so well. That was the first thing I checked. It’s before the playoffs start, no important hockey game. I’m officially booked.
Goldie
YAY! YAY! YAY!
Salem
Can’t wait to see you again.
Goldie
Goldie emphasized “Can’t wait to see you again.”
Goldie
Why does three weeks suddenly seem so far away?
Salem
Salem laughed at “Why does three weeks suddenly seem so far away?”
Before I can do more than react to his message, my phone is snatched out of my hands.
“Who’s Goldie?” Adrian asks. He’s fast, already on the other side of my desk. Too far for me to reach to reclaim my phone.
“The guy I went out with on Saturday,” I say casually.
I’m not hiding anything. It’s not even a big deal.
The only reason that I’m so hung up on him is that I thought we were going to hook up, and it got delayed. I’m sure that once we do, I’ll get him out of my system and move on. Like always.
Not that I typically wait weeks and travel out of state for a hookup, but I’m not looking too closely at those details right now.
Adrian folds himself into one of the chairs across from my desk and hands me back my phone, not bothering to actually read anything.
The fact I’m still texting the same man is out of character enough. Plus, Adrian knows I’ll tell him whatever he wants to know.
“He must have been pretty great in bed for you to still be talking to him,” Adrian says, and I roll my eyes. “And for you to have been looking all swoony when I first walked in here,” he adds in a teasing voice.
“Swoony? Is that even a word?”
“You were definitely swoony. Big eyes, staring at your phone screen like it was your favorite thing in the world.” He sounds smug. “You didn’t even notice me come in!”
“Whatever.”
“Soooo… tell me about it!” Adrian raises his brows and circles his hand dramatically in a hurry up and spit it out motion.
“Fiiiine…” I play along just as dramatically. “Our date was amazing.” I’m trying to suppress the stupid smile on my face, but I know I’m failing. “We were laughing the whole time. He’s so much fun to hang out with, and we never ran out of things to talk about.”
“That's nice?” he says like it’s a question. “But I asked about the sex, Beck, not his sense of humor.” Adrian looks at me with concern, like he doesn’t recognize me.
I throw my head back in frustration, rubbing my eyes with my hands as I groan. “I don’t know, okay? His boss interrupted us with an important call, and we had to cut the night short.”
“I’m sorry, Beck, that sucks.” Adrian sounds bummed for me, which I appreciate.
“And now I can’t stop thinking about him. Like, I’m worried that I’m actually losing my mind over this guy.” Adrian laughs, but I’m only half joking. “A, I just agreed to go to a weekend retreat in fucking Florida so that I can see him again.”
“But, you hate Florida,” Adrian states, like I don’t already know my own opinion.
I nod as I list off some of the reasons. “The humidity, the crowds, the families traveling, the sand.” Then, I repeat myself slowly to really drive the point home. “Losing. My. Mind!”
“What’s the retreat even for?”
“More of the self-help, New Age bullshit that he taught when he was here.”
If possible, Adrian looks even more confused. “If you know that it’s bullshit, then why do you keep going to the programs?”
“Because he’s there, and I’m an idiot.”
“You’re clearly not an idiot.” Adrian gestures around the fancy office like that proves I’m an intelligent, functioning adult. Ignoring the fact that I mostly got my job because I was born into the right family.
“When it comes to Cody, it’s like my brain just shuts off and hands the controls to my dick,” I admit.
Adrian smirks, clearly amused as I keep going. “You should’ve heard the nonsense I spouted during that class, trying to impress him and act like I was taking it seriously. He’s so good at his job, he even had me believing it for a minute.”
“Do I even want to know?”
“He had me questioning if my lack of relationship resulted from some subconscious need to be accepted by society.” I roll my eyes. “Not because I have no desire to spend extended amounts of time with the same person, don’t trust anyone, and get bored easily.”
Adrian is back to looking confused. “If you do want a relationship with this guy, that's not a bad thing. You know that, right?” he adds skeptically.
“Sure, but I don’t want a relationship. I just want to hook up with him, and then I’ll move on like I always do.”
Adrian doesn’t look convinced but drops the subject, returning to work. After about an hour of us reviewing things that I need to sign or approve for the team, he leaves to get to the Caldwell Center for tonight’s game.
I’ll meet him there later, but he likes to go early, claiming it’s to check in with the players or staff—though I’m pretty sure it’s just an excuse to check out the players in their suits. Not that anyone minds; they all love him.
When I finally check my phone again, I see that there are several missed texts from Cody, and I catch myself smiling down at it.
Goldie
I’m glad that you finally texted me
Goldie
I’ve been trying to hold off all week, worried that you’d think I was harassing you to spend money on the classes
Goldie
But I was bummed when we had to end the night early on Saturday
Goldie
At the risk of embarrassing myself, I had a really fun time hanging out with you. I’m glad that it wasn’t a one time thing *smile emoji*
The smile on my face grows with each new message that I read. This guy is just so fucking adorable. How could anyone not feel happier talking to him?
Salem
Sorry for the delay, I got interrupted with work. That’s not embarrassing. I really enjoyed our time together too and I’m looking forward to seeing you again. In the meantime, feel free to text me whenever you’d like, I know that you’re not (only) after my money haha
Goldie
Hahaha, I guess I am happy that you’ll be taking the classes with me
Goldie
But I’m definitely the most excited to get to hang out again